Environmental and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Nigerian University Students' Participation in Physical Activity
Year: 2014
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: This study assessed the physical activity level of university Students in relation to environmental and socioeconomic factors. Methods: One hundred and three undergraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria participated in this study. Pedometer was used to measure physical activity level of the participants over a week period. Questionnaires were used to assess socioeconomic status and environmental correlates of active commuting. Results: The results showed that 29.1% of the participants were somewhat active, while 27.2% were highly active. Only 3.9% were sedentary. There were significant negative associations between physical activity level and socioeconomic status (r= -0.503, p< 0.001) and residential location (r= -0.207, p< 0.036). There were no significant association between physical activity level and environmental characteristics except for the variable that assessed presence of parked cars between sidewalks and the road traffic (χ2 = 20.779, p< 0.05). Conclusion: University students in Nigeria are somewhat and highly active. Socioeconomic status, residential location and barriers posed by parked cars between sidewalks and road traffic are important correlates of physical activity of Nigerian University students.
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W99824100